Local Briefs

June 05, 2007|Staff Reports

MICHIGAN CITYPrison guard arrested, accused of smuggling An Indiana State Prison correctional officer was arrested Monday for allegedly bringing a package containing marijuana into the facility to be delivered to an offender. Joann Smith, 44, a department employee for 20 months, was arrested by the LaPorte County Police Department Metro Task Force. She was charged with trafficking, a Class C felony. Smith will be arraigned in LaPorte County Superior Court today. The Indiana State Prison's Internal Affairs Department identified the officer early Monday morning, and she was taken into custody. A search of Smith's lunch box produced a cell phone, ear buds, cigarette rolling papers and a package of marijuana inside a plastic bag, which was hidden in her food, according to police. The package tested positive for marijuana. SOUTH BENDVolunteers planning to clean Howard Park The Trash Troopers will meet at the Howard Park play area at 6 p.m. Wednesday to clean up litter. For more information, call Amy Hendrickson at (574) 232-4239. SOUTH BENDMan faces trial in child molesting A 40-year-old man will go on trial June 18 for allegedly having sexual intercourse in 2003 with a relative, who was then 13 years old. The suspect is facing two counts of child molesting, a Class A felony. He was charged after the girl became pregnant. SOUTH BENDSexual misconduct trial postponed Brian Kromkowski of South Bend will stand trial Sept. 5 on charges he had sexual intercourse with a 14-year-old girl in July 2003. His trial, originally scheduled for May 14, was postponed because of a scheduling conflict in the court calendar. Kromkowski, 30, finished serving a prison sentence earlier this year for causing the death of an 18-month-old boy. SOUTH BENDTrial delayed; victim's condition improves Two of four men accused of beating 36-year-old Tyrone Neely in June 2006 appeared in court today. The trial of Andrew Lee Harvey and Anthony Lamar Grundy Jr., who are each facing one B felony count, was postponed to Sept. 24 at the request of prosecutors. Catherine Wilson, a spokeswoman with the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office, said the trial was postponed because Neely's condition has improved enough that he might be able to help prosecutors. Larry Ramone Mitchell, who is also facing a B felony count, will go to trial on the same day. Micah Houston, who is facing a B felony count, must plead by July 23. Neely has been recovering from brain injuries.